Tits and Business

4 - Axel and Luna and Playing Dirty

"God." Jackson sighed deeply, shrugging his oversized backpack over his shoulder. "If I have to hear Mr. Todd lecture us one more time in Sex Ed I will flip my shit." The bell had finally rung and Jackson and Olivia were making a break for the school's exit. 

"It's your fault for failing Sex Ed three times. Now you're paying for it by sitting in the same class for the fourth year in a row. But I think you secretly like those lectures about the ovaries and erections." Olivia smirked at him, pulling on a gray beanie. A dreary day was outside the doors, with a steady stream of sleet falling down, making everything seem dark and bleak. Both Jackson and Olivia liked it this way. 

"No." He shook his head violently. "I swear to you that is not the case. But as much swearing as I might do, you won't believe me, so I'll stop. And from this point on I will be ignoring you and planning out some shots for the magazine." 

She smiled, but held her tongue. As much as she wanted to, teasing Jackson right now would only frustrate him and he was busy thinking about important things, like angles and filters and backdrops. 

At Jackson's apartment all of his belongings were packed in large plastic boxes and pushed against one wall, the rest of the roomy flat was empty, aside from his equipment. Industrial sized lights stood off in the corner, in a tangled mess of black wires. A directors chair was folded and propped against a stack of paint cans. Bright red, dark blue, and shimmering silver paint cans. Papers and clipboards cluttered his mini kitchen's counters and about a years supply of instant coffee filled his cupboards. 

"You seem prepared for this." Olivia remarked, after having not spoken the entire walk there. 

Jackson looked around absentmindedly, until his gaze fell on his stove's digital clock. "Three-thirty. They'll be here any minute." 

Moments later the intercom buzzed and Dolly's loud cheerful voice filled the room. "Hey, guys! I know you're in there, so let us in. My hair is frizzing out with this damp weather."

Some scuffling through the intercom. "Hey, Olivia!" Axel yelled, and Olivia swore she could hear a snort which could be from no one else but Luna. 

Jackson and Olivia could hear the group of teens before they saw them. Without knocking, Dolly pushed the door open, laughing loudly. Greyson followed with a wide grin on his face, and after him came Luna, Joy, Axel, and Troy. 

Jackson ran his hands through his shaggy blonde hair and cringed. "Looks like it's showtime." 

"I didn't choose. You did, remember?" Olivia sympathized with him as she stared at the group. Axel had found himself a stool and was seated on it, dressed casually in baggy sweats. Greyson's brown hair stuck out as if someone's hands had been recently been thrust in it, which, by looking at Dolly's smeared lip gloss, didn't seem so far from the truth. Luna wore a strapless red dress with a male's leather jacket and black pumps and her make up was all out for the occasion. Joy and Troy were still dressed from their after school art club, and white paint was in Troy's  hair. 

Jackson blew air from his nose before straightening his posture and saying cheerfully. "Welcome to the set." 

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"I don't really understand why we had to be here if all you were going to do was paint a wall." Luna commented, kicking off her pumps until she was barefoot on the wooden floor. 

Joy smiled at her kindly, waving a paintbrush. "You wouldn't be nearly as bored if you joined in and helped." 

Luna sat on the ground in defiance and arched one perfect brow at Axel and Olivia, who were in the corner, painting it silver. "You two are an absolute mess."